by Ray Hill | Jan 22, 2017 | Columnist, Hill, Ray Hill's Archives, Stories In This Week's Focus:
By Ray Hill Ray Blanton had achieved his long sought after goal of winning statewide office in Tennessee with his victory in the 1974 general election. Blanton had defeated Republican Lamar Alexander decisively in winning the governorship. Ray Blanton had always...
by Ray Hill | Jan 15, 2017 | Columnist, Hill, Ray Hill's Archives, Stories In This Week's Focus:
Ray Blanton emerged from the 1974 primary as the Democratic nominee for governor of Tennessee. It had been a contentious primary in with twelve men competing for the nomination. Blanton had barely edged banker Jake Butcher to be the nominee. The Republicans had their...
by Ray Hill | Jan 8, 2017 | Columnist, Hill, Ray Hill's Archives, Stories In This Week's Focus:
By Ray Hill After having lost the 1972 race for the U. S. Senate to incumbent Howard Baker by a wide margin, Ray Blanton found himself out of Congress. Blanton returned to Tennessee and immediately began planting the seeds for an expected bid for the Democratic...
by Ray Hill | Jan 2, 2017 | Columnist, Hill, Ray Hill's Archives, Stories In This Week's Focus:
By Ray Hill Tennessee had lost a congressional district in the redistricting in 1971. Congressmen Ray Blanton and William Anderson, both Democrats, would likely have run against one another if both sought reelection. Anderson flirted with a bid for the Democratic...
by Ray Hill | Dec 18, 2016 | Columnist, Hill, Stories In This Week's Focus:
By Ray Hill Senator Howard Baker entered the fall general election after having followed a strategy of organizing early and avoiding controversy. Baker’s opponent, Jane Eskind, had won the Democratic primary by self-funding and had tried to take advantage of the...
by Ray Hill | Dec 11, 2016 | Columnist, Hill
By Ray Hill Senator Howard Baker had seen several election cycles diminish Republican gains in 1974 and 1976. Democrats were optimistic about continued success and Speaker of the Tennessee House of Representatives Ned Ray McWherter was asked by President Jimmy Carter...
